USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > Genealogical and personal history of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 8
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WHALEN The name of Whalen is one which has always been con- nected with honorable industrial enterprises. It is one of frequent occurrence in Ireland, and many of the represen- tatives of this family have come to the United States. Michael Whalen spent his entire life in Ireland, where he married Mary Dorsey.
(II) Patrick Whalen, son of Michael and Mary (Dorsey) Whalen, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1870. For a time he made his home in Steubenville, Ohio, then removed to Colliers; Brooke county, West Virginia, where he died in 1891. He had been in the employ of the Panhandle Traction Company for a number of years. His widow and children removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later to Aliquippa, where she established herself in the grocery business in which she has been eminently successful and has amassed a competence. She is now the owner of considerable real estate. Mr. Whalen was a Demo- crat, and all of the family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Whalen married, in Ireland, in 1868, Catherine, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Dorsey) Trall, both of whom lived and died in Ireland. Patrick Trall was a participant in the battle of Waterloo, and was active in many of the battles which were fought in the East Indies. They had children : Mary Catherine; Catherine, who married Patrick Whalen; Bridget. All of these daughters are living. Patrick and Catherine (Trall) Whalen had children as follows: I. Michael, was a general yardmaster at Connells- ville, Pennsylvania, for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company; died August 1I, 1910; he married Annie McGuinness, of Steubenville, Ohio, and had children: Catherine, Leo, Mary Agnes, Regis, Inez. 2. Mary, died at the age of nineteen years. 3. Margaret, married P. L. Cox, of Hazle- wood, supervisor of the plant of Jones & Laughlin; has one child, Eliza- beth. 4. Annie, married John Sullivan, yardmaster in the Jones & Laughlin plant at Hazlewood; has one child, Eleanor. 5. Lizzie, married E. S. Gallagher, an engineer at Aliquippa, has one child, Francis. 6. Katie, married Thomas Jones, in the grocery business at Homestead, Pennsyl- vania ; no children. 7. Marcus, died at the age of twelve years. 8. Eleanor, married Thomas Coyne, of No. 104 Thirteenth street, North Braddock, Pennsylvania; has children: Paul and Ilene. 9. James, an engineer, un- married, lives in Aliquippa. 10. Patrick, deceased.
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Julius Zimmerman, born in Baden, Germany, in 1827, ZIMMERMAN received an excellent education in his native country. He came to the United States in early manhood, and found employment as a steward on the "Robert E. Lee," remaining in this position many years. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party. He married Sarah Ann Kane, born in Steubenville, Ohio, 1848, daughter of - and Ann (Jones) Kane, both natives of the state of Maine, and who removed to Steubenville, Ohio. He was employed in various capacities on the river, and died of yellow fever in New Orleans, Louisiana. She removed to Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where she died in 1889. They had children: 1. A daughter, who died at an early age. 2. Samuel M., who became the general manager of the Roch- ester Tumbler Works, and was killed on the railroad. 3. Catherine. 4. Sarah Ann, who became the wife of Julius Zimmerman; she was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
(II) Joseph J. Zimmerman, son of Julius and Sarah Ann (Kane) Zimmerman, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, December 25, 1870. His early years were spent in that town where he attended the public schools, and was then sent to Mount Pleasant, in Western Pennsylvania. From 1887 to 1890 he was a student at the Mount Pleasant Classical and Scientific Institution, and the Pennsylvania Military College, at Chester, Penn- sylvania, after which he came to Rochester, Beaver county. He formed a business connection with the Rochester Tumbler Works, which continued in force until 1906, with entire satisfaction to all interested. He had commenced in the mold making department, and had worked his way upward through all grades until in 1900 he was made man- ager of the Keystone Tumbler Plant, which had been erected in 1897. In 1906 he severed his connection with the glass manufacturing business, and established himself in the mercantile line, succeeding Sharp & Hoffman, and was eminently successful until 1909. He then became the secretary of the Rochester Mold & Machine Company, an office he is still filling with remarkable executive ability. Mr. Zimmerman has been an active worker in the interests of the Republican party, and was chosen as alternate dele- gate to the national convention held in Chicago, in 1904, taking the seat made vacant by the death of Hon. M. S. Quay. He has affiliations with numerous organizations, among them being the following: Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Rochester Lodge, No. 229, Free and Accepted Masons; Eureka Chapter, No. 167, Royal Arch Masons; New Castle Lodge of Perfection; and Scottish Rite Masons, of Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, and for twelve years has been the secretary of the Blue Lodge at Rochester. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church and Mr. Zimmerman is an attendant of the same. In 1896 he erected the beautiful dwelling at No. 170 West Park, in which he now resides.
Mr. Zimmerman married, October 12, 1893, Alice J., born in Rochester, Pennsylvania, daughter of John J. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Hoffman, the
Lout Timmermans ٨
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latter now deceased. John J. Hoffman was a prominent merchant in Rochester, where he is still living, and was a member of the Beaver Valley Electric Company. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman have children: Eliza- beth Bell, born July 21, 1894; Nell Wilson, November 17, 1900.
McGUIRE In Beaver county, a region devoted chiefly to agricultural pursuits, the McGuires of Ireland have been successful farmers ever since that district has been their home, which has been for one full century, Daniel McGuire having been the first of his branch of the McGuire family to come to the United States.
(I) Daniel McGuire was born in Ireland about 1763, and in that country was a tiller of the soil. In 1813 he came to the United States, landing in Pennsylvania, and proceeding immediately to Beaver county, where his descendants have since lived. He made farming his occupation in the land of his adoption and owned land in Economy township, dying on the homestead there in 1854. He became a supporter of the Democratic party as soon as he obtained a thorough acquaintance with American politics and political methods, and with his family was a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He married Mary O'Connell, who died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, her birthplace being the same as his. Children of Daniel and Mary (O'Connell) McGuire, all deceased: I. Grace, married (first) a Mr. Dougherty, (second) John Ingles. 2. Charles, of whom further. 3. Marjorie, married John Downey. 4. Nancy, married Nathaniel Downey.
(II) Charles McGuire, only son of Daniel and Mary (O'Connell) McGuire, was born in county Derry, Ireland, January 1, 1800, died in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1854. His education, begun in his native land in the private schools, was completed in the United States in institutions of the same character, his father having brought him to this country when he was a lad of thirteen years. Completing his studies, for a time he rented land from his father, on which he conducted agricultural operations, and a few years later purchased his father's farm, there residing until his death, which occurred when he was but little more than in the prime of life. His religious convictions were those of his parents, and he and his wife were faithful communicants of the Roman Catholic Church. In politics his sympathies were identical with those of his father, and his political activity was ever for the benefit and advance- ment of the Democratic party. Many township offices were conferred upon him by his neighbors, including school director, director of the poor, road supervisor, and numerous others, his administration of all public trusts being marked by a willing and capable attitude that made him an ideal public servant, his efforts tending toward the best possible end, re- gardless of the labor entailed.
He married Catherine Corby, born in Limerick, Ireland, died on the home farm in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. October
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22, 1874, daughter of John Corby, a merchant of Ireland, who in the United States became a farmer, dying in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He married a Miss Sheehan. Children of John and - (Sheehan) Corby, all deceased: I. Catherine, of previous mention, married Charles Mc- Guire. 2. John, died in Missouri; married Amanda Music. 3. William, married, and spent his life in Missouri, where his death occurred. 4. Mary, died unmarried. 5. Bridget, died unmarried. 6. Michael, died un- married. 7. Frank P., married (first) -, (second) a Miss Robedoux. Chil- dren of Charles and Catherine (Corby) McGuire: I. Daniel, died unmarried. 2. John, deceased; married Ann Llambias. 3. Charles, died unmarried. 4. Michael, of whom further. 5. Mary, died unmarried. 6. Joseph, mar- ried Helena Zink, and lives in Pittsburgh; they are the parents of two children, both living at home, Charles and Mary. 7. James, died aged sixteen years. 8. Ellen, died unmarried.
(III) Michael McGuire, fourth child and son of Charles and Catherine (Corby) McGuire, was born in Economy township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, February 24, 1839. As a boy he attended the township public schools, living on the home farm, and after the death of his father he managed the home farm for his mother until he was twenty years of age. He then purchased the interests of his co-heirs in the home property and became sole possessor of the one hundred and fifty acres of land that had comprised the old homestead. Thus for practically sixty years he has had full charge of the homestead, for the most of that time as owner. After many years devoted to the dairy business, chiefly in the making of butter, he later confined himself, in a great degree, to truck raising. For the first named product of his farm there was ever a large demand because of its sweetness, purity and freshness, and he encountered little trouble in finding a ready market for his farm produce. He is now retired from active pur- suits, enjoying a well earned rest. While found in his most familiar element as an agriculturist, and the fact that he is vice-president of the Beaver County Agricultural Association shows that his reputation among farmers is one of merit in that line, Mr. McGuire has given no small share of his time and attention to business matters, having for seventeen years been president of the Wall Rose Fire Insurance Company, an organization of which he has been secretary for the past eleven years, still continuing in that capacity. As the head of the above-mentioned organization he placed its affairs upon a business basis of unshaking firmness, and his works show to the present day in that it is known as a responsible and reliable institution, well-officered and well-managed. To the public service he has also given generously, for ten years directing the educational affairs of the township as school director, and for six years holding the office of township auditor. The years of his life, seventy-five in number, in 1914, have been spent in an activity that always tended toward useful ends, and the scope of his connections bespeaks a man of wide sympathies and equally broad abilities. His entrance into political life was as the repre-
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sentative of the Democratic party, although at the polls he was accorded the support of his many friends, irrespective of party lines, and in religion he adheres to the family faith, the Roman Catholic, as does his wife.
He married, June 13, 1871, Catherine Moore, born in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1851, daughter of George and Margaret (Dorst- witz) Moore, both natives of Prussia. George Moore was a brick manu- facturer and farmer during his American residence, and died in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, aged seventy-two years, his wife's death occurring in that place. Children of George and Margaret (Dorst- witz ) Moore: I. Frederick, deceased; married Elizabeth Minick. 2. John, served about four years in the Civil War in the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Captain B. F. Blood, was captured at Antietam, released at close of war, held at Andersonville, Libby and Belle Island prisons ; married Mary Broadwick; lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; they are the parents of: George; Thomas; Catherine, unmarried; Clements, married William Seifker; Adalaide, unmarried; John, married Augusta Moran : Lawrence, unmarried. 3. Mary, married John Chisler; lives in Canons- burg, Pennsylvania; children: Barbara A., married Matthew Mallory; Margaret, married William Der; William, married Frances Wright; Eliza- beth, married John Davis; Mary Estella, married Harry Stewart, of Pitts- burgh. 4. Andrew, unmarried, lives in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 5. George, died from disease contracted in the service in the Civil War, served in the One Hundred and Sixty-first Pennsylvania Infantry. 6. Elizabeth, lives unmarried in Economy township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 7. Catherine, of previous mention, married Michael McGuire. Children of Michael and Catherine (Moore) McGuire: I.
Ellen, married Gilbert Foran; lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the mother of Francis, Charles and Lawrence. 2. Della, married George H. Davis; lives in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania; they are the parents of one child, James, aged four years. 3. Charles, married Jennie Irwin; lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the father of one daughter, Catherine, aged six years. 4. John M., married Gertrude Styelinger, deceased; she lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 5. Mary, married William Hemmerle; lives in Pittsburgh. 6. Leo, married Ellen Kratzler; she is deceased. 7. Grace, lives at home. 8. Clair, lives at home.
HAMMERLE The part that German settlers have played in Beaver county does not differ materially from that which those of that nationality have to their credit in other regions of this country, that of a sober, intelligent, industrious people, who, es- tablishing institutions and precedents as the needs of their communities called for them, built them after their own personalities, weaving into them the elements of firmness and substantiality that make for permanence and endurance. Among the many families that Germany has given to the United States, and among the large number that have made Pennsylvania
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their home, is that of Hammerle, established in the United States by John Hammerle in 1853.
(I) John Hammerle was a resident of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, for twenty years prior to his death, which occurred in 1873, when he was eighty-four years of age. These two decades had been spent in agri- cultural pursuits, John Hammerle having been a son of the soil in the Fatherland. There is in the possession of John (3) Hammerle, grandson of John (1) Hammerle, the emigrant, an old trunk in which the first John carried all of his worldly goods when he made the voyage from his native country to the United States in 1853. He was a member of the German Lutheran Church, then known as the German Reformed, as was his wife, and reared his children in that faith. The maiden name of his wife was Kuckenberger, her death taking place in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of: Leonard, resident of Monroe, New York; Rudolph, deceased; Lizzie, lives unmarried in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; Catherine, married (first) a Mr. Thomas, (second) - Zinkham, and lives in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; John, of whom further.
(II) John (2) Hammerle, son of John (1) Hammerle, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1832, died in Economy township, Beaver county, Penn- sylvania, April 15, 1906. His early life was spent in Germany, and he was there educated in the schools for which that land is justly famous, coming to the United States with his father in the year that he attained his majority. After his arrival he was for a time employed in Pitts- burgh, later entering the agricultural field, in which he remained until his death, meeting with good success and becoming one of the farmers of the region whose undertakings were universally prosperous. In 1862 he en- listed in the Union army and served for a term of nine months, at the end of that time returning to the cultivation of his acres. He was a Democrat in political sympathies and for three years served the township as school director. For many years he was a trustee of the Lutheran Church, his wife holding membership in the Presbyterian Church in her later years. He married Elizabeth Shaffer, born in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, who died in Freedom, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1912, aged seventy-eight years. She was a daughter of Casper Shaffer, a farmer of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1878. Chil- dren of Casper Shaffer: I. Elizabeth, of previous mention, married John (2) Hammerle. 2. John, married - Gudemoth, and lives in Unionville. New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania; they are the parents of : Callie, married Jacob Shaney, and lives in Unionville, Penn- sylvania ; Nicholas, married, and lives in New Brighton, Pennsylvania ; Emma, married Frank Acher, and lives in Freedom, Pennsylvania; Henry, married Louisa Graham, and lives in Monaca, Pennsylvania; Joseph, mar- ried, and lives with his parents; Walter, unmarried, lives at Ambridge, Pennsylvania; Harry, unmarried, lives at Freedom, Pennsylvania; Mary, lives at home. 3. Henry, married Barbara Eckhart, and lives on the
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old homestead in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania ; they are the parents of several children. 4. Eve, married John Knoupfe, and lives in Butler county, Pennsylvania, the mother of four children. 5. Mary, married Adam Fleener, and lives in Dougherty township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, the mother of several children. Children of John (2) and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Hammerle: I. Paulina, died aged twelve years. 2. John (3), of whom further. 3. Benjamin, deceased. 4. Charles, married Carrie Kerner, and lives in Pittsburgh, the father of two sons, Elmer, married Lizzie Berry, and Harry. 5. Henry, married Jennie Fuller- ton, and lives in Pittsburgh, the father of two children, Claire and Cora, both married. 6. Joseph, married Mary Shirk, and lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the father of two children, Norman and Maria, aged sixteen and nine years, respectively. 7. George, married Ida Miller, and lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the father of two daughters, Esther, aged nine, and Mildred, aged six years. 8. Mary, died aged twelve years. 9. Eliza- beth, married W. E. McElheny, and lives in Conway, Pennsylvania; they are the parents of two children, Walter and David, aged fourteen and twelve years, respectively. 10. William, married Emma Gross, deceased; lives in Freedom, Pennsylvania, the father of three children, Lenhardt, aged eleven years, Blanche, aged nine years, Helda, aged seven years.
(III) John (3) Hammerle, son of John (2) and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Hammerle, was born in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, October 9, 1859. His early years were spent in Economy township, where he attended the public schools, working on his father's farm until 1891, when he purchased eighty-one acres of land, which he has since cul- tivated with excellent success, both from a financial standpoint and the agriculturist's point of view. He specializes in no one branch, all of his operations being general in character and varied to suit the seasons. Bus- iness has claimed part of Mr. Hammerle's time, his name appearing as a director and appraiser of the Wall Rose Fire Insurance Company and as a stockholder in the People's Telephone Company. Politically he is strongly partisan, giving the Democratic party his full support, having held the office of road supervisor for two years and that of school director for five years. The latter position he still fills and has been a strong worker for the cause of education in the township. For three years he was also one of the township election board. Nor does his field of activity meet its boundary at that point, but extends to the offices of trustee, secretary and treasurer of the Presbyterian Church, his ecclesiastical duties receiving the same thorough care that characterizes his actions in any branch of service, be it private, public or business. His wife is also a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Hammerle married, December 29, 1881, Sadie Filbert, born in New Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1860, daughter of Edward and Jennie (Bass) Filbert. Edward Filbert was born in Germany, and was a farmer both in that country and in the United
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States, his death occurring in Pennsylvania. Children of Edward Filbert: I. John, deceased. 2. Maggie, deceased; married L. Dunbar. 3. William, married, and lives in Freedom, Pennsylvania. 4. Edward, married Mary Peirsol, and lives in Freedom, Pennsylvania; they are the parents of five children, among them George, Jennie, Vera, the latter two married, Jennie to a Mr. Russell, Vera to a Mr. Kelly. 5. Hannah, married George Lawyer, and lives in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania; children: Frank, Edward, Harvey, Jennie, George, Annie; all are married with the exception of Annie, who lives at home, Jennie's husband being David Livingstone. 6. Sadie, of previous mention, married John (3) Hammerle. 7. David, mar- ried and has several children. Mr. and Mrs. Filbert were also the parents of two children who died young. Children of John (3) and Sadie (Filbert) Hammerle: I. William, married Mary McGuire, and lives at Homewood, Pennsylvania. 2. David, lives at home. 3. Ralph, lives in Pittsburgh. 4. Howard, lives at home. 5. Mary, attending school. 6. Hazel, attending school.
MERKEL The name of Merkel is no uncommon one in this country, and we find that bearers of it have come from various sec- tions of Germany. The family here under discussion came from Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. Two brothers and two sisters of this family came to this country: Justus, see forward; Washington, a resident of Richmond, Virginia; Margaret, who married a Mr. Vollhardt, of Wells- burg, West Virginia; Helena Fisher, of Newark, New Jersey; and Henry, a brother of the above mentioned, remained in Hessen Darmstadt, but his son Henry is a resident of Newark, New Jersey.
Justus Merkel was born at Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, May 3, 1824, died in Monaca, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1907. His father was Henry Merkel, who lived and died in Germany. Justus Merkel was educated in the schools of his native country, and was there apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, in which he was very successful. He emigrated to America in 1847, landing at Philadelphia from whence he migrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. About the year 1850 he removed to Monaca, Beaver county, where the remainder of his life was spent. Throughout the years of his residence in America he followed the calling with which he had been identified in his native land. Being frugal and industrious, and possessed of much natural business acumen, he amassed a considerable fortune. He acquired a large amount of real estate, por- tions of which he sold very advantageously from time to time, re-invest- ing the profits of his sales. During the Civil War Mr. Merkel was a par- ticipant in the struggle while plying his trade. He was a member of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Merkel married (first) Margaret Mateer, and by this marriage had no children. He married (second) 1895, Marie Elstner, born in Germany, July 24, 1870, daughter of John and Agatha (Palmer) Elstner,
Dieshis Merkel
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the former of whom died in Germany about 1876, the latter came to Monaca, Beaver county, 1893, died there, June 4, 1907. They had chil- dren : Theodore, of Charleroi; Richard, of Monaca; Marie, who married Mr. Merkel. Justus and Marie (Elstner) Merkel had children: Flora, born April 16, 1896, married, November 28, 1912, Marshall Finn, of Monaca ; Marie, born August 24, 1897; Ida, born October 19, 1898; Justus, born June 30, 1902.
Annie Higby, mother of William F. Higby, was the daughter
HIGBY of Dr. Charles and Margaret (McKenna) Higby, her father a native of Massachusetts. They were for a time residents of Pittsburgh, later moving to Tennessee, and finally settling in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Charles Higby was a physician by profession and was said to have been the first doctor of the homoeopathic school in Beaver county. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. Children of Charles and Margaret (McKenna) Higby: Charles, a farmer, died in McLoud, Oklahoma; Maggie, married Dr. Pyburn, and died in Greeley, Colorado; Annie, of previous mention, born at Brownstown, near Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1835.
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